Ideal Magnetohydrodynamic Stability of the NCSX

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Fusion Science and Technology

OSTI ID:931334

Fu, GuoYong ^[1]; Isaev, Maxim Yu ^[2]; Ku, Long-Poe ^[1]; Mikhailov, M ^[2]; Redi, M H ^[1]; Sanchez, Raul ^[3]; Subbotin, A ^[2]; Hirshman, Steven Paul ^[3]; Cooper, W Anthony ^[4]; Monticello, D. ^[1]; Reiman, A H ^[1]; Zarnstorff, M. C. ^[1]

---

1. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)
2. Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, Russia
3. ORNL
4. CRPP/EPFL, Association Euratom-Suisse, Lausanne, Switzerland

The ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability of the National Compact Stellarator Experiment (NCSX) is extensively analyzed using the most advanced three-dimensional MHD codes. It is shown that the NCSX is stable to finite-n MHD modes, including the vertical mode, external kink modes and ballooning modes. However, high-n external kink modes that peak near the plasma edge are found to be weakly unstable. A global calculation shows that finite-n ballooning modes are significantly more stable than the local infinite-n modes.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: ORNL LDRD Director's R&D
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 931334
• Journal Information: Fusion Science and Technology, Journal Name: Fusion Science and Technology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 51
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MHD equilibrium and stability
PLASMA
STABILITY
STELLARATORS
compact stellarators
quasi-axisymmetry